Places to eat in Ayr

Whether you’re looking for Italian, Thai, Indian, classic British dishes or gastro-pub grub, you’ll find it all in Ayr. Probably the coolest spots in town, MacFarlane on Sandgate is a welcoming restaurant and bar open for breakfast, lunch, Sunday roasts and dinner. As well as great food, they have a strong drinks menu spanning speciality coffees, wine, cocktails and an extensive gin list.

Head north towards the River Ayr, and you’ll come to The Waterfront, a high-end bar, pub and restaurant that’s equally good for a glass of something cold as it is for a hearty meal. You can either eat in the bar or head into the 60-seat restaurant and take advantage of their a la carte menu, which spans burgers, sharing platters, seafood, salads and their impressive grill and steak selection. And while you’re waiting for your food, drink in the gorgeous waterfront views and order their signature unique take on a G&T, the Ayrshire Sparkle cocktail.

For Italian food, head to Vito’s Italian Restaurant next to the train station. A modern restaurant with bright fittings and fixtures – including an impressive glass staircase – the 100-capacity two-floor restaurant is noted for its range of stone-baked pizzas, as well as an array of pasta dishes, seafood and steak dishes.

On the northern bank of the River Ayr and close to our Ayr Racecourse hotel, At Home Thai & Grill serve up the best noodles, stir-fries and rice dishes in town, while Ayr India is a modern and stylish Indian restaurant that prides itself on its authentic tastes and their modern gluten-free cooking style which uses cholesterol-free oil.

With down to earth prices and dishes including slow roasted pork belly, grilled sea bass and peppered duck confit, Saffy’s Café Bar & Brasserie on Dalblair Road expertly blends the line between restaurant and café. The atmosphere and service are laid back and friendly, and the menu covers everything from breakfast, lunch and dinner, coffee and snacks.

Part of the Gaiety Theatre, the Stage Door Café isn’t just the perfect place for a pre-show bite to eat but also the perfect place to grab breakfast or your daily dose of coffee and cake.

Just off Newmarket Street, Café Le Monde is an old fashioned, family run café that excels thanks to their freshly prepared soups, sandwiches, wraps and life-affirming coffee.

Over on the northern bank of the River Ayr, the Secret Garden is a homely café, with a large terrace overlooking their garden. It’s open daily for breakfast and lunch, but make sure to leave room for their cakes, especially their speciality scones (the Banoffee Pie scone still has our heart).

Lastly, Poet’s Corner is – as you’d expect from a region so in love with the famous Scottish poet – a café dedicated to Robert Burns. Based in the Burns Heritage Centre, the café serves up a decent range of breakfast, lunch and snacks, including cakes and scones as well as hot and cold drinks.